Children, Youth & Families

Whether your child is shy or squirmy, teddy-bear-clutching or bold, a boy in a tutu or a girl who slays dragons, she or he will fit in fine! It is our joy to enfold all children – the outspoken, the diagnosed, the temper-tantrum-throwing, and the sweet, cuddly ones, too! – within the circle of community in Christ’s church.

We strive to honor the intelligence and imagination of children in our care. Through biblical storytelling and open-ended questioning which invites children to wonder and make meaning for themselves, we seek to nurture a faith in children that can stretch and grow with them as they mature. In providing age-appropriate outreach and service learning opportunities, we endeavor to instill values of kindness and compassion that will serve them for life.

Community Hour for Children and Youth

Old South Church is committed to lifelong learning across the age-span. Sandwiched between worship services at 9am and 11am, our Sunday 10am Community Hour offers a variety of church school classes: Godly Play for preschool and elementary children, a Bible study class for tweens, and youth group for teenagers.

Community Hour for Adults

The Forum: This casual, no-commitment, come-when-you-can forum hosts monthly series on a variety of topics. Clergy, lay, and special guests share in leading sessions, some of which have included: Judaism and Christianity in Conversation, Islam 101, Exploring White Privilege, Meeting John Calvin Again for the First Time, Christian Reflection on Life and Death, and Old South at the Oscars.

Sunday Bible Study: Delve into the day’s scripture passage heard in worship. Led by our ministerial staff, this no-homework bible study delights in taking a scholarly look at ancient texts. Don’t leave your questions at the door, we need them.

Confirmation is a class that meets throughout the school year to explore the history, traditions, and theological beliefs of the Christian church at large, and the UCC in particular. At Old South Church we believe in helping students to explore faith through inquiry and reflection, and with a chosen mentor who walks with the individual student as they contemplate what it is that they, personally, believe. Students are offered the chance to join the church through the rite of Confirmation in the Springtime, if they so choose. We honor the journey of the confirmation class, regardless of the outcome of our students’ choices - believing that faith is a life-long journey and that no two experiences are alike.

Our 2017-2018 class met on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 - 2pm, and used a combination of curriculum from “Confirm Not Conform” and Sparkhouse’s Re:Form curriculum.

Our next Confirmation class begins in Fall 2019 and will be open to students in 7th and 8th grades (and older). Times and dates of classes will be determined with parents at a later date. For more information, email Kate at children@oldsouth.org.

*When students begin Confirmation class, they also are welcome to begin attending Youth Group.

Children age 5 and up are welcome in our fun and informal music-making classes that meet during our 9am or 11am worship services. Both classes meet on the 4th floor and either enter worship or depart from worship, depending on service. Led by Children’s Music Leader Amy Budka, students learn explore many creative worship arts including singing, playing instruments, and theatrical arts. In the fall, students are primarily focused on preparing a Christmas Pageant - presented in 9am worship during Advent. In the winter and springtime, we turn our focus towards more traditional singing and accompaniment with xylophone, guitar, or rhythm instruments. This ever-shifting and evolving class will help your children to explore the many ways we worship God through singing, playing, and play-acting.

First Worship Children’s Choir: 9 - 9:30am (at which time we join parents in worship)

Note: With prior arrangement, Youth Group students are welcome to join in to children’s music as helpers.

Email Amy Budka childrenschoir@oldsouth.org for more information.

Infants to Age 2

Parents are welcome to keep children in worship with you or to utilize our childcare services, available throughout every Sunday morning. We also offer several options for helping children to transition to and from worship. Click here for information about baptisms.

Our loving and skilled childcare professionals provide safe and reliable childcare, treating children to love, warm hugs, books, toys, and coloring projects in one of our fully stocked preschool rooms. Childcare is available uninterrupted from 8:40am - 12:30pm. At sign-in, parents can choose to have their child brought down to join them at 9:30 in worship, enabling families to have communion together and children to experience a portion of the worship service.

10am Community Hour

Infants, Toddlers & Two’s

Blue and Green Rooms (3rd Floor)

During the 10am hour our childcare staff read faith-based children’s books and play with our youngest children. Parents are encouraged to attend one of the Adult Community Hour classes, or to make connections with other parents over coffee/tea.

11am Festival Worship

Parents have the option of worshiping with their child for the beginning of the worship service, and then sending them up to childcare for the remainder of the service. At a designated point in the service, parents may bring their children to the narthex (lobby) where they are met by our staff.

Preschool (Ages 3-5)

Preschool aged children are beloved at Old South. We have a variety of care and education options for them, including our Godly play program, childcare, or simply keeping your little one with you in worship.

Children are treated to love, warm hugs, books, toys, and coloring projects in our fully stocked preschool rooms. At sign-in, you will have the option to choose for your child to stay with us for part of the service, and then join parents in worship for communion at 9:30.

10am Community Hour

Godly Play - Preschool

Students age 3 through just before Kindergarten. Takes place in the Guild Room (side closest to the elevator) (4th Floor)

At age 3, we welcome children into church school where we practice Godly Play. Godly Play is a montessori-based Christian education curriculum where children explore the stories of the Bible and practices of the church through hands-on learning and play. Stories are told with hand-crafted materials, then children are led through a series of wondering questions followed by a period of self-directed work. We conclude each day with a shared “feast” of gluten-free Chex. A team of 2 - 3 volunteer leaders rotate to teach this classroom - with one member of our childcare staff present each week.

11am Festival Worship

Childcare

Available 8:40am - 12:30pm in theGreen Room (3rd Floor)

Parents have the option of keeping their child with them for all - or just the beginning portion of the worship service. Following the scripture reading, childcare staff will take children who are brought to the narthex (lobby) up to childcare for the remainder of the service.

Early Elementary (K-2nd Grade)

Students in early grade school are encouraged to join our children’s choirs, who meet during our 9am and 11am worship services. They may choose, however, to stay with parents or to play in the childcare room. There are children’s bulletins and crayons available at every worship service for children who choose to stay - please ask the ushers for direction.

Godly Play is a Montessori-based christian education curriculum where children explore the stories of the Bible and practices of the church through hands-on learning and play. Stories are told with hand-crafted materials, then children are led through a series of wondering questions followed by a period of self-directed work. We conclude each day with a shared “feast” of gluten-free Chex. A team of 3 - 4 volunteer leaders rotate to teach this classroom each week.

11am Festival Worship

Childcare

Green Room (3rd Floor)

Parents have the option of keeping their child with them for the beginning portion of the 11am worship service. Following the scripture reading, childcare staff will take children who are brought to the narthex (lobby) up to childcare or choir for the remainder of the service.

Children age 5 and up are welcome in our fun and informal music-making classes led by Children’s Music Leader Amy Budka.

Older Elementary (3rd-5th Grade)

Our oldest elementary students are the leaders of our children’s choir and experts at Godly Play. Their classroom is one where several stories might be told in one day - and students compare and contrast the messages and meaning. We welcome their wisdom and their wackiness!

Godly Play is a Montessori-based christian education curriculum where children explore the stories of the Bible and practices of the church through hands-on learning and play. Stories are told with hand-crafted materials, then children are led through a series of wondering questions followed by a period of self-directed work. This oldest classroom will hear more extension than the younger classrooms, and introduces students to beginning Bible study each week. We conclude each day with a shared “feast” of gluten-free Chex. A team of 3 - 4 volunteer leaders rotate to teach this classroom each week.

Children age 5 and up are welcome in our fun and informal music-making classes led by Children’s Music Leader Amy Budka.

Middle School (6th-7th Grade)

Our middle school students are in that “in-between” space. They aren’t children or teenagers. They don’t go to childcare but haven’t been confirmed yet. These students have a special Bible-intensive church school, may choose to sing in choir or attend worship, and are the leaders in our annual Christmas Pageant.

Children age 5 and up are welcome in our fun and informal music-making classes led by Children’s Music Leader Amy Budka.

10am Community Hour

Meet the Ancestors

Sam Johnson Room (4th Floor)

Students in 6th- 7th grades dive into Bible study as we meet the ancestors of the Old Testament & New Testament. Through video, discussion, and projects, we get to know the many varied personalities that God chose to be leaders of God’s people. This two-year class completes their survey of the Old and New Testaments in Spring 2019, and a new class convenes in Fall 2019 with rising 5th and 6th grades.

Children age 5 and up are welcome in our fun and informal music-making classes led by Children’s Music Leader Amy Budka.

Youth Group (8th-12th Grade)

Students in Youth Group explore issues of life, faith, and service on Sunday mornings, while enjoying fellowship with one another. The Youth Group runs the pancake breakfasts and the Youth Sunday worship service.

Youth Group students primarily choose to worship with their parents at 9am. Teens who wish to volunteer with children’s ministries at this time would be welcome - but must coordinate with children & family ministries director Kate Nintcheu beforehand.

10am Community Hour

Youth Group

The Clubroom (Lower Level)

Students in 8th - 12th grades meet on Sundays from 10:00 - 11:00 am. They explore issues of life, faith, and service on Sunday mornings, while enjoying fellowship with one another. The Youth Group runs the pancake breakfasts and the Youth Sunday worship service.

Youth Group Leader: Martha Schick martha@oldsouth.org

11am Festival Worship

Most Youth Group students worship with their parents or with each other at 11am.